First Case Report of Histoplasmosis in a Cat in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Cytological, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were carried out on a presumed 10-year-old Japanese cat showing vomiting and emaciation. On cytologic examination of the mass of the upper abdominal cavity, many yeast-like organisms were detected in the macrophages. At necropsy, the upper part of colon was markedly dilated with a thickened wall. The lung did not show significant changes. Histologically, severe necrotic and granulomatous lesions were observed in the colon. In the colonic lesion, the cytoplasm of the macrophages contained yeast-like organisms with irregularly shaped dots, and the cell walls of these organisms were stained black by Grocott-Gomori methenamine-silver stain. Immunohistochemically, they were found to be positive for anti-histoplasma yeast antibody. This is the first report of feline histoplasmosis in Japan.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in a cat rescued in Fortaleza, Brazil, and successfully treated with itraconazole – First case report identified molecularly

“…2 ). These results corroborate with studies [ 1 ], which affirm that this pathogen may be observed in cytology [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , 9 , 12 , 14 , 15 ], biopsy [ 5 , 10 , 13 ] or culture [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , 8 , 10 , 15 ]. The importance of cytology in obtaining a rapid diagnosis is emphasized, thus providing greater speed to introduce the appropriate therapy for the case.…”

“…According to some authors, non-regenerative normocytic-normochromic anemia [ 5 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 15 ] may occur in these cases with a normal white cell count [ 1 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 13 ]. Other studies also described that elevated ALT activity can be observed [ 1 , 12 , 14 ], which did not occur in this case. Although a new blood exam was recommended, the owner did not authorize it.…”

“…Feline histoplasmosis is considered endemic in United States [ 1 , 11 ], and there are a few reports in cats around the world, as in Italy [ 12 ], Germany [ 2 ], Thailand [ 13 ], Japan [ 14 ], Costa Rica [ 8 ], among other countries, but little is known about the cases in Brazil. According to Table 1 , most of these reported cases occur in the state of Ceará [ [3] , [4] , [5] ], although no other cases have been found in the other Northeastern States.…”

Feline histoplasmosis: a case of supraorbital involvement

“…The histoplasmosis safest diagnosis is histopathology and it is possible to distinguish fairly well fungal cells from Histoplasma, Cryptococcus, Sporothrix, Coccidioides, among others, considering the morphology (size, shape, cell wall) and the distribution of the lesions (Kobayashi et al, 2009). The differential diagnosis is very important and should be considered to cryptococcosis, a mycosis of larger incidence in USA and respiratory tract diseases (Davies e Troy, 1996) and sporotrichosis, due to the occurrence of an epidemic in Rio de Janeiro since 1998 (Schubach et al, 2004).…”

“…The yeast cells proliferate within macrophages and are transported to systemic organs by a mononuclear phagocytic system (Atiee et al, 2014;Kobayashi et al, 2009). …”